It wasn’t clear to me yet, back in June, just how much a little-known businessman named BRUCE RAUNER was going to set the tone of the Republican race for governor this primary cycle by spending millions of dollars.

When Rauner addressed employees at the Brandt farm services company headquarters in Springfield on June 19, his message was direct and it seemed as if policy pronouncements were to come.

Well, the direct message — that he’s going to take on “union bosses” and fix what is broken about Springfield — has kept coming. But some of the promised specificity hasn’t materialized.

When he said, for example, that he wanted to “break up that corrupt system” of government unions donating to politicians, I asked if he wanted to eliminate public unions.

“We need to modify their power,” he said. When asked how, he said, “I won’t go into it today. We’ve got a detailed plan on it.”

I mentioned that it sounded like legislative approval would be needed.

“We have a plan,” he said. “We’ll talk about that another day.”

He did say it was fair “for government workers to decide whether to join a union or not,” but when asked if he was proposing a right-to-work plan, which generally allows non-joiners to avoid paying “fair-share” dues, he said, “Today’s not the day” to say.

His campaign website, under “jobs,” does say he wants to “Create right-to-work zones and allow local communities to decide whether workers must join a union in order to get a job.”

He said he was for merit pay for teachers and principals, more charter schools and a voucher system “in our worst school districts so parents can get out of those broken systems and go elsewhere for their kids’ education.”

I asked if he would want vouchers to be usable at religion-based schools.

“We’ll get to that plan later,” he said with a laugh.

He was clear that he thought defined benefit government pensions were wrong, and while current workers should keep the benefits they have accrued, he favored a from-this-day-forward plan of a defined contribution plan, like a 401(k).

I asked if it would be unconstitutional to make current workers change midstream, given that the Illinois Constitution doesn’t allow “diminished or impaired” pension benefits.

“Absolutely not,” he said, “We’re not taking away anything done historically. … I’ve talked to top lawyers in the state. Very constitutional.”

This week, I asked Rauner’s spokesman, MIKE SCHRIMPF, several things, including if he could find me one of those lawyers for a comment.

Page 2 of 3 - I also said I would note that Rauner has been rarely available to reporters in Springfield during this campaign. Schrimpf noted that Rauner’s running mate, EVELYN SANGUINETTI of Wheaton, was at the Sangamon County GOP’s Lincoln Day Dinner. Rauner was at Gov. PAT QUINN’s State of the State address and took a limited number of questions afterward. He was also in the Citizens Club of Springfield debate last week, though he didn’t stick around for post-debate questions, as most candidates do.

He also spoke at a Sangamon County Republican Network lunch on Halloween. When he spoke with reporters there, I asked about the size of his land holdings in Montana and Wyoming, where he said he has his “primary ranches and barley operations.”

“I own a lot of land,” he said, also with a laugh.

The Chicago Tribune reported a month later that among Rauner’s homes in states including Utah, Florida and New York is a 6,000-square-foot one in Livingston, Mont., that is part of his New Moon Ranch on hundreds of acres of grazing and cropland and is valued at $2.2 million. He also has ranches in McLeod, Mont., and Meeteetse, Wyo., the Trib reported.

Schrimp this week didn’t provide the name of any of those “top lawyers” or provide clarification on the issues about which I asked.

“While barnstorming the state for nearly a year, Bruce has provided a clear and more detailed vision for how to bring back Illinois than any other candidate in the race,” Schrimpf said. “Bruce enjoys every visit he makes to Sangamon County and looks forward to moving to Springfield when elected governor.”

Finally, a debate

U.S. Rep. RODNEY DAVIS, R-Taylorville, and his GOP primary opponents ERIKA HAROLD of Urbana and MIKE FIRSCHING of Moro will participate in a radio debate at 7 a.m. March 10 on a radio station in Normal.

The debate on WRPW, 92.9FM, will be live-streamed on the station’s website, www.cities929.com.

The three Democrats running for their party’s nomination, ANN CALLIS of Edwardsville and GEORGE GOLLIN and DAVID GREEN of Champaign, were in a forum in Champaign last week. It can be heard via the website of the News-Gazette of Champaign-Urbana at http://bit.ly/1hgT8qT.

The 13th includes part of Springfield, including east and central parts of the city, the Illinois State Fairgrounds and Washington Park.

Long seeks new term

Page 3 of 3 - ROSEMARIE LONG, who is finishing her first two years as chair of the Sangamon County GOP, has been announcing to various groups that she is going for another two-year term.

“I really enjoy being chairman,” she said. “I am fortunate to have hardworking and dedicated precinct committeeman, elected officials and volunteers. … It’s been gratifying to see the party grow.” She said the recent Lincoln Day Dinner, which drew nearly 1,200 people to see Dr. BEN CARSON, was “just outstanding.”

She said that for her, being chairman has been a full-time job, but she considers it “well worth the time as it’s an honor to serve.”

Precinct committeemen elected in the March 18 primary will choose county chairs when they meet at county conventions April 16.

Cross fans

Neither state Rep. TOM CROSS nor DuPage County Auditor BOB GROGAN has been endorsed by the Sangamon County GOP in their race for their party’s nomination for state treasurer. Cross, though, put out a list of more than a dozen people who are part of his “Sangamon County leadership team.”

They include Circuit Clerk TONY LIBRI and Coroner CINDA EDWARDS, as well as Springfield Alds. CORY JOBE and FRANK EDWARDS. Already backing him were party chair Long, and state Reps. RAYMOND POE and RICH BRAUER.

Three Springfield Park Board members on the list include SARA WOJCICKI JIMENEZ, who was spokeswoman for Cross when he was leader of the House GOP. And eight Republican county board members include JOHN O’NEILL, who is quoted in a Cross news release as saying Cross “has been a true friend to Sangamon County and will be a vigilant fiscal watchdog as our next treasurer.”